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Giant Puffball

Calvatia gigantea

Photo by Dan Doucette
Published on Project Noah
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43.1422, -79.3687

Field Notes

Description:

These puffballs were large. The smallest about softball size and the largest bigger than a soccerball. There were at least 10 of the giants in a small area. Most giant puffballs grow to be 10 to 70 centimetres (3.9 to 28 in) in diameter, although occasionally some can reach diameters up to 150 centimetres (59 in) and weights of 20 kilograms (44 lb).

Habitat:

Europe and N. America

Notes:

I spotted these growing about 15' off the Bruce Trail in Jordan. There were kind of hard to spot as they were surrounded by weeds and prickly raspberry bushes. Unfortunately I don't like mushrooms or else I would have been really happy about finding there.

Reference Links:

Calvatia gigantea

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (15)
Dan Doucette
Thanks Philip. Yeah, I needed something to show the scale.
Nimbid Ditavi
This is amazing! Love the sponsor on the second picture! Haha. excellent photos!
Dan Doucette
Thanks Carol. Yeah, I think scale can be hard to get from a photo sometimes, I had to show how big this was!
Carol Snow Milne
WOW! Glad you gave your lens cap as a point of reference. Very smart indeed. Great photo!
BrandonBlount
You can also marinate slices in Italian dressing or balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing for a couple of hours and then grill them that way. Just make sure the grill is up to temperature and that you don't cook them too long as they will get too rubbery. you basically just want to crisp / char the outside.
BrandonBlount
:-D Puffballs are awesome and can be made in many different ways. I also like to grill the slices, top them with tomato slices fresh basil, a little garlic powder/salt, and then feta cheese, put them back on the grill once topped turn the heat low and let the cheese melt down over the toppings and serve them as a starter.
BrandonBlount
Too bad I don't live closer! Those would make for great garlic butter fried sandwich slices, or even giant stuffed mushrooms with herb bread stuffing with cheese on top!!! YUM!!!!!!!!! Great find!!!!
Ivan Rodriguez
That would make more sense, thanks for clearing that up. :)
Dan Doucette
I don't think they don't really enhance the taste, I think they are more used for textures.
Ivan Rodriguez
Ahh, gotcha. Well then we're on the same boat, as I can't stand their awkward taste. The smells vary, and there are quite a few pleasant ones, like almond or a deep earthly scent. But when being used in a dish, some just don't enhance the taste, do they?
Dan Doucette
Yeah, these were huge! I just don't like the taste or smell of fungi, nothing to do with their appearance.
Ivan Rodriguez
Wow, the third photo really shows how large they are. Haha why don't you like fungi? Too alien-like?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mushroom Mapping
Mission
Wildlife of the Niagara Region

Tags

Photographed
PublishedOctober 9, 2011

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